TROLLEY AND SPREADER ASSEMBLY

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a hoisting system for manipulating freight devices, for example shipping containers and flat racks, Further, the apparatus of the present invention is applicable to the manipulation of multiple freight devices simultaneously.

Background of the Invention

[0002] To increase the economic viability of transporting freight, port authorities invest significant capital into infrastructure to facilitate the efficient loading and unloading of containers from ships at dock. The infrastructure is geared to move said containers to storage facilities ready for delivery via land transport or directly from ships to the land transport.

[0003] Recently, to increase efficiency and therefore economic viability, inventions facilitating the movement of several containers simultaneously have been developed. One such invention is disclosed in WO 01/98195. This invention incorporates a spreader having connection to two container engagement frames, which may engage with one or two containers. It follows that this will immediately increase the rate for which a ship may be loaded or unloaded, and therefore the efficiency of the process.

[0004] A disadvantage of this invention is the connectivity between the spreader and engagement frames. As shown in the various figures of WO 01/98195, the engagement frames are connected to the spreader either by chains or pin-jointed tie rods.

[0005] If this arrangement were to pick up one container only or two containers of substantially varying weights, then a redistribution of the weight would lead to the spreader listing to one side due to the unbalanced force. Thus, this arrangement is restricted to lifting containers of substantially similar weights. In the loading and unloading procedure however, the only time an operator will be assured of lifting two containers of similar weight will be when the containers are empty. Thus whilst this invention is useful in moving multiple containers, in a practical sense, it may be restricted to the safe movement of empty containers only.

[0006] This development has been built on by the invention of WO 03/104132. This invention is an improvement over first in that the connection between the spreader and the container engagement frames is releasably fixed, so removing the degrees of freedom inherent with the use of the chain or pin-jointed tie rods of the previous invention. Further, to prevent the spreader frames from listing, the invention WO 03/104132 provides a hydraulically powered assembly capable of separating the engagement frames, so that adjacent containers do not interfere with each other and are therefore held in a fixed relation to each other. This has the advantage of maintaining a degree of control over the load, which is not possible with the invention of WO 01/98195.

[0007] Nevertheless, the invention of WO 03/104132 is still subject to existing infrastructure and therefore any imbalance of load through a mismatch of weights of the lifted containers may lead to the same rotation at the point at which the cables engaging the spreader to the hoist are joined. Thus whilst the spreader and engagement frames are stable, the cable would still permit rotation as the unbalanced load is redistributed. As with the previous invention, the redistribution and consequential rotation of the spreader frame may lead to difficulties in placing the containers either on the dock or on a ship.

[0008] A known container loading apparatus with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US 3,671,069. The containers are carried on a pair of spreaders; each of the spreaders is independently suspended from a separate platform mounted on a trolley.

[0009] It would be advantageous to have a system whereby containers having a weight differential can be lifted without suffering the detrimental effects of a redistribution of load

Summary of Invention

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to minimize rotation of the spreader or engagement frames through a load redistribution when lifting containers of differing weight

[0011] In a first aspect, the invention provides a trolley assembly comprising a spreader assembly comprising two head portions which respectively engage with a spreader frame, the spreader assembly adapted to engage at least two freight devices, each respectively engaged with each spreader frame; means for supporting the spreader assembly, said means including cables; a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion; the supporting means adapted to connect the spreader assembly to at least one of said carrier portions and a trolley separation means for selectively varying the relative position of the first and second carrier portions; characterized in that the trolley assembly further comprises spreader separation means for adjusting the relative position of the head portions; wherein the relative position of the first and the second carrier portions varied by the trolley separation means, corresponds to the relative position of the head portions adjusted by the spreader separation means; the adjustment of the trolley separation means and the spreader separation means is such that the cables are maintained in a substantially vertical orientation.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second carrier portions may be discreet trolleys, which may be in rolling engagement with a rail or a crane beam. In a more preferred embodiment, the first and second carrier portions being trolleys may be connected to each other via the trolley separation means. In a most preferred embodiment, the trolley separation means may be one or more actuators, which are capable of selective separation of the trolleys by extension of actuating rams.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the first and second carrier portions may be sheaves mounted within a single trolley. One or both of the carrier portions may therefore be in sliding engagement with the single trolley such that separation of the carrier portions is achieved through sliding the sheaves to the desired position.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the supporting means may be an arrangement of pulleys and sheaves together with a cable set, arranged on the trolley and the spreader assembly whereby the spreader assembly is suspended from the carrier portions by the cables.

[0015] The cable set may be a plurality of cables whereby the first plurality of cables is connected to a hoist at one end and a first engagement portion at an opposed end, said cables passing through the carrier portion and directing downwards to the engagement portion. Correspondingly the second plurality of cables may span from a second hoist to the second engagement portion via the second carrier portion.

[0016] Thus, the load carried by the first engagement portion is passed directly to the first carrier, and accordingly the load carried by the second engagement portion is passed to the second carrier portion. Rather than a redistribution or weight about a single cable set suspended from a single trolley, the trolley arrangement for the present invention acts as two distinct trolleys maintaining the cables in a vertical arrangement. The present invention has all the advantages of a unitary structure by maintaining the engagement portions and carrier portions in respective and selectably fixed relation through the separation means. Thus, movement of the containers becomes a single action despite the load bearing arrangement, being in a relatively discreet arrangement

[0017] In a second aspect, the invention provides a trolley assembly further including a hoist mechanism for controlling the vertical motion of a duel spreader assembly, said assembly having at least first and second spreader units, said hoist mechanism comprising a hoist dram, a first cable set connecting the first spreader unit to the hoist drum; a second cable set connecting the second spreader unit to the hoist drum, wherein activation of the hoist mechanism causes the hoist drum to rotate, to lift or lower the first and second spreader units simultaneously.

[0018] Thus, by eliminating the need for a second hoist drum, firstly this has the advantage of not requiring synchronization between hoists operating on the associated spreader units. More importantly, however, there is significant saving in infrastructure in that the cost saving involved with a second hoist drum, a gearbox and cables is substantial.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the hoist drum may be mounted to a fixed structure such as a fixed crane. Thus, cables projecting from the hoist drum may be directed horizontally, then directed downward from the trolley. In an alternative embodiment, the hoist drum may be mounted directly to the trolley and therefore projecting cables vertically downward such that the spreader assembly is directly supported by the hoist.

[0020] In a third aspect, the invention provides a trolley assembly further including a hoisting system comprising a hoisting means, a spreader assembly, a cable termination assembly and a cable connected at a first end to the hoisting means and connected at an opposed second end to the cable termination assembly. Said spreader assembly engaged with said cables intermediate the hoisting means and termination assembly such that the vertical position of the spreader assembly is determined by activation of the hoisting means, wherein at least one of said cables is connected to the germination assembly via at least one trimming actuator such that the relative position of said at least one cable is selectively adjustable on activation of the trimming actuator and consequently adjusting the orientation of the spreader assembly.

[0021] It is recognized that a shortcoming of the prior art relating to duel spreader arrangements is the ability to handle the plurality of containers in an individual manner. Whilst in an ideal situation, the freight devices or containers may be positioned on flat ground, perfectly parallel to each other and delivered in an identical orientation, this will not always be the case. The containers may be of different sizes, located on a slope or maybe delivered it to the deck of a listing ship. Thus there will be circumstances when it will be necessary to treat the containers as individual items whilst still maintaining the need to transport them simultaneously. Thus the present invention provides a means by which the orientation of one spreader unit may be adjusted relative to a second spreader unit. This adjustment may be in terms of any one or a combination of relative longitudinal offset, relative inclination in the vertical plane, inclination of both spreader units in the vertical plane, longitudinally and transversely.

Description of Preferred Embodiment

[0022] It will be convenient to further describe the present invention with respective to the accompanying drawings which illustrate possible arrangements of the invention. Other arrangements of the invention are possible and consequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the proceeding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the hoist mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the operation of the single hoist according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic elevation view of the trimming cylinders according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the split-trolley according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the duel spreader assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an elevation view of the hoist mechanism according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the trimming cylinders according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 1 shows the hoist mechanism 5 mountable within a fixed structure (not shown).

[0024] In broad terms, the hoist mechanism 5 according to this embodiment, comprises a single hoist drum 100, a split trolley 200, a duel spreader assembly 300 and an end block assembly 400.

[0025] Cables running continuously from the hoist drum 100 to the end block assembly 400 pass through the split trolley 200 and are directed downwards to engage the spreader assembly 300 and terminate at the end block assembly 400. Thus, rotation of the hoist drum 100, with the end assembly 400 being essentially fixed, will cause the duel spreader assembly 300 to lift or lower a load attached to this spreader assembly 300.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the operation of the single hoist 100. In this embodiment, the single hoist comprises a single drum 105 to which cables 10a,c for the first carrier assembly 110a are attached. Further, a second cable set 10b,d also are attached to the single hoist drum 105 and engage the second carrier assembly 110b. Both cable sets 10a,b and 10b,d terminate at the end block assembly 400, which provides a substantially fixed point.

[0027] Hoist systems of the prior art, for a duel carrier arrangement, will provide two hoist drums, each operating with a single carrier assembly. Thus lifting and lowering of the freight devices attached to the carrier assemblies require synchronization of the two hoist drums to ensure the containers are lifted and lowered at the same rate and from the same position. Whilst a small differential may be accommodated, it is still a technically difficult exercise to synchronize these distinct hoists.

[0028] This is where the single hoist system according to one aspect of the present invention is of particular advantage. For the manipulation of two or more freight devices, it follows that the loads will travel at the same rate, both vertically and horizontally, and so permit the use of a single hoist drum 105. By connecting two sets of cables 10a,c and 10b,d, rotation 125 of the single hoist drum 105 will operate both cable sets 10a,c and 10b,d simultaneously, which will respectively cause both of the carrier assemblies 110a,b, to move 130a,b at the same rate. Thus, so long as the pick-up point of the freight devices for each of the carrier assemblies 110a and 110b is the same, then it follows that there will be little or no differential between the position of the containers when they are lifted and lowered.

[0029] Figures 1 and 3 also shows the end block assembly 400 according to a further aspect of the present invention. The end block assembly 400 comprises an anchor block 403, which is fixed to the fixed structure (not shown). Any suitable anchor block 403 will suffice for the present invention so long as it is capable of carrying the loads applied by the cable ends and also accommodating trimming cylinders 405a,b which connect the cable ends to the anchor block 403. The trimming cylinders 405a,b may be hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically operated, so long as they are capable of firstly, holding the cable ends in a fixed position resisting the applied loads and when in use, being able to adjust the position of the cable end for any of the activated trimming cylinders 405a,b.

[0030] To demonstrate the effect of the trimming cylinders, an example is shown in Figure 3, whereby a trimming cylinder 405b is associated with a second carrier assembly 110b. Extending the ram of the trimming cylinder 405b has the effect of extending the length of relevant cable 10b,d. This has a consequential effect on the position of the second spreader assembly 120b by lowering 410 the load carried by the second spreader assembly 120b. Thus, whilst the single hoist 100 operates to maintain the loads in the same position relative to each other, the trimming cylinders 405a,b of the end block assembly 400 operate to make incremental adjustments of the relative position of the loads.

[0031] Thus, if two freight devices, such as shipping containers, are to be lifted from a ship that may be listing, or from a truck positioned on a slope, then the containers may be engaged and lifted simultaneously by "trimming" the position of each of the spreaders to accommodate the different positions of the containers. On engaging and lifting the containers, the relative position may be adjusted again by the trimming cylinders 405a,b to match the conditions of the ground, ship or truck to which the containers will be moved.

[0032] Figure 4 shows a duel spreader assembly 300 according to a further aspect of the present invention. Whilst the present invention is useful for single spreader hoist systems, many of the inventive features are particularly useful where a duel spreader is incorporated. To this end, the duel spreader assembly 300 according to one aspect of the present invention is provided to be suspended from a trolley carrier unit for instance the split trolley 200 according to another aspect of the present invention.

[0033] The duel spreader assembly 300 comprises an upper head frame 305a,b mounted to cables 307 projecting from the trolley carrier above. The cables engage with the head frames 305a,b through pulleys 308 which permit the cables 307 to pass continuously through. The head frames 305a,b are respectively mounted to spreader frames 310a,b. The spreader frames 310a,b are modified in comparison with existing spreader frames in that they include a conventional attachment, such as twist lock, at peripheral corners 330 and, at internal corners 335 of the spreader frames. Thus, the spreader frames 310a,b may act individually so that each is attached to a single freight device or alternatively, the spreader frames may be drawn together and connected so as to act as a single spreader frame engaging a single freight device.

[0034] The adapted spreader frames 310a,b are mounted to the head frames 305a,b through shear pins 320a to d. Whilst it is possible to mount connection, such as twist blocks, to the header frames 305a,b to engage with the spreader frames 310a,b, the nature of this connection is such that a rapid engagement is not required and can conveniently be done on the ground prior to use. Thus, the use of shear pins 320a to d provide a convenient and simple means to mount the spreader frames to the head frames. Typically, shear pins of 100mm diameter can be used, but this will be subject to the loads for which the apparatus is rated, which will be clear to the skilled addressees in the circumstances.

[0035] A challenge for duel spreader frames of the prior art is how to cope with clearance of adjacent containers held by the duel spreader frames. In the case of the present invention, there are provided in this embodiment, hydraulic actuators 315a,b,c located on the head frames 305a,b. The actuators 315a,b,c are arranged to have two outer actuators 315a,c acting perpendicular to the major axis of the spreader units and a third inner actuator 315b acting within the same plane as the outer actuators 315a,c, but inclined to the spreader frame main axis. This particular combination of actuators permits a variable range of orientations of the spreader frames to accommodate the different positions of containers to be lifted or lowered. It is recognized that it will not be in every case that containers will be located on flat ground and perfectly square to each other. In situations where the containers are offset or at inclined angles to each other, that the duel spreader assembly 300 according to the present invention, will still be capable of engaging and lifting said containers.

[0036] For instance where the containers are offset from one another by activating the internal actuator 315b, the spreader frames will move in opposed directions, co-linear with their major axis, that is one forward and one back.

[0037] Alternatively, if the major axes of the containers are inclined to each other, so too must the spreader frames be oriented. In this case, the internal actuator 315b will be free to move and the first and second outer actuators 315a,c differentially activated so as to rotate the spreader frames relative to each other until the desired inclined orientation is achieved.

[0038] These movements are based upon the spreader frames remaining in the same plane. If, however, the spreader frames need to be outside of a common plane, this may be accommodated according to this embodiment of the present invention. Circumstances where it may be necessary to use the spreader frames in different planes include when containers of different heights must be lifted or where the containers are on a slope, such as for a truck on an incline, or from a ship deck listing to one side. In this case, the portions of the head frames 305a,b to which the actuators 315a,b,c are attached, are in fact rotatable 325a,b. Thus, by releasing a brake on the rotatability of these portions 325a,b, the spreader frames can be hoisted at different heights with the actuators acting to maintain and adjust these height differences.

[0039] It should be noted that in a further aspect of the present invention, the trimming cylinders of the end block assembly 400 may be used to adjust the height of the spreader frames 310a,b so further adding to the flexibility of this embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 5 shows a split trolley 200 according to one aspect of the present invention. Whereas conventional hoisting systems will have a unitary carrier acting as the trolley from which the spreader assembly will be suspended, the present invention in this embodiment provides for two discreet carriers 205a,b linked by actuators 210a,b. The split trolley according to this embodiment is particularly suited for use with a duel spreader arrangement. In such an arrangement whereby spreader frames will separate so as to accommodate side by side containers, trolley carriers according to the prior art are in fixed relation. Therefore as the spreader frames separate, the cables from which the spreader frames suspend will become more and more inclined, leading to greater tension in the cables to accommodate this angle. In the present invention, the actuators 210a,b are activated so to separate the discreet carriers 205a,b to a position corresponding to the separation of the duel spreader frames such that the cables become substantially vertical.

[0041] Whilst the trolley units 205a,b are discreet units, said carriers are nevertheless linked through the actuators 210a,b. Thus, movement of the trolley as a whole unit need only rely upon one of said carriers 205a to have a motor such that the trolley will run along the crane rails of the fixed structure. To this end the split trolley 200 is in fact divided into a master trolley 205a and a slave 205b, whereby the master trolley 205a is motorized having a motor of sufficient capacity to also drive the slave unit.

[0042] Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, whereby the split trolley involves movable sheaves 355, 360, 365 within a single trolley carrier 350. As with previous embodiments, the arrangement includes a trolley 350 from which is suspended, using cables 367, 370, 375, a spreader assembly 380.

[0043] In the embodiment, a first position of one carrier 365 is shown whereby the corresponding cables 375 are inclined, and so increasing the applied load. The second carrier 355 has cables 367 in the desired position, being substantially vertical, and hence it is desirable to move the first carrier 365 so as to have these corresponding cables 375 also vertical.

[0044] Hence, the first carrier 365 is moved 385 to a position 360, whereby the cables are now substantially vertical and thus reducing the load in the cables, and otherwise benefiting from the more desired arrangement.

[0045] As a further alternative arrangement, figure 7 shows an embodiment of the trimming cylinders 500. In this arrangement, a hoist drum 510, controls cables 505 a to d. The cables pass through sheaves before progressing to a trolley and head frame (not shown). The intent of trimming cylinders is to vary the length of cables either individually or collectively. In the previous embodiment, this was achieved by extending an in-line cylinder. In this embodiment, the lengthening comes from decreasing the path through which the cable passes. Specifically, the trimming cylinders 520 a to d bear directly on the sheaves 515a to d, and in fact, do not contact the cable. The sheaves 515 a to d are movable subject to the force applied by the cylinders 520 a to d. Thus, by retracting the cylinder, the sheaves 515 a to d move 525 a to d accordingly. By moving inwards, the path followed by the cables 505 a to d is shortened, leading to the corresponding portion of the head frame lowering relative to the non-affected cables. Conversely, by extending the cylinder, the sheaves are moved in the other direction, lengthening the path, leading to the corresponding portion of the head frame lifting relative to the remaining portions.

Claims

1. A hoisting system comprising:

a spreader assembly (300) comprising two head portions (305a,b) which respectively engage with a spreader frame (310a,b), the spreader assembly (300) adapted to engage at least two freight devices (130a,b), each respectively engaged with each spreader frame (310a,b); and

a trolley assembly (200) comprising means for supporting the spreader assembly, said means including cables (307),

a first carrier portion (205a) and a second carrier portion (205b);

the supporting means adapted to connect the spreader assembly (300) to at least one of said carrier portions (205a,b); and

a trolley separation means (210a,b) for selectively varying the relative position of the first and second carrier portions (205a,b);

characterized In that

the trolley assembly (200) further comprises spreader separation means (315a,b,c) for adjusting the relative position of the head portions (305a,b);

wherein the relative position of the first and the second carrier portions (205a,b) varied by the trolley separation means (210a,b), corresponds to the relative position of the head portions (305a,b) adjusted by the spreader separation means (315a,b,c); the adjustment of the trolley separation means (210a,b) and the spreader separation means (315a,b,c) is such that the cables (307) are maintained in a substantially vertical orientation.

2. The hoisting system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley separation means (210a,b) comprises a plurality of actuators (210a,b) arranged to selectively vary the relative position of the carrier portions (205a,b).

3. The hoisting system according to claim 2, wherein the actuators (290a,b) are any one or a combination of hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators or electrically-driven actuators.

4. The hoisting system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley separation means (210a,b) includes an actuator biased framework of lever arms.

5. The hoisting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting means comprises cables (307), sheaves and pulleys (308) arranged to suspend the spreader assembly (310a,b) from at least one of said carries portions (205a,b).

6. The hoisting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier portions (205a,b) comprise separate carriers in rolling engagement with a rail or crane beam,

7. The hoisting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the carrier portions (205a,b) are mounted to a single carrier (350), with the second carrier portions in sliding engagement with the single carrier, said carrier in rolling engagement with a rail or crane beam, such that the separation means bias the second carrier portion to slide to the desired position relative to the first carrier portion within the carrier.

8. The hoisting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first carrier portion (205a) is a master carrier and the second carrier portion (205b) is a slave carrier engaged with the master carrier through the separation means, said master carrier driven so as to move the trolley assembly along the rail or crane beam.

9. The hoisting system according to claim 1, wherein the head portions (305a,b) includes a plurality of pulleys (308) for engaging the cables (307).

10. The hoisting system according to claim 1, further including a hoist mechanism (5) for controlling the vertical motion of a duel spreader assembly (300), said assembly having at least first and second spreader units, said hoist mechanism comprising a hoist drum (100), a first cable set (10a,c) connecting the first spreader unit (310a) to the hoist drum; a second cable set (10b,d) connecting the second spreader unit (310b) to the hoist drum, wherein activation of the hoist mechanism causes the hoist drum (100) to rotate, and consequently to lift or lower the first and second spreader units (310a,b) simultaneously.

11. The hoisting system according to claim 10, wherein the hoist drum (100) is mounted to a trolley located directly above the duel spreader assembly,

12. The hoisting system according to claim 10, wherein the hoist drum (100) is mounted to a fixed structure with the cables passing through the trolley with said duel spreader assembly supported by the cables beneath the trolley.

13. A hoisting system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a hoisting means (5), a cable termination assembly (400) and a plurality of cables (10, 307) connected at a first end to the hoisting means and connected at an opposed second end to the cable termination assembly;

said spreader assembly (300) engaged with said cables intermediate the hoisting means and termination assembly such that the vertical position of the spreader assembly is determined by activation of the hoisting means;

said cable termination assembly (400) including an anchor block (403) mounted to a fixed structure and adapted to anchor a plurality of the cables; and

at least one trimming actuator (405a,b) positioned intermediate an end of at least one cable and the termination assembly;

wherein the at least one of said cables is connected to the at least one trimming actuator (406a,b) in series with said cable such that the relative position of said at least one cable is selectively adjustable on activation of the at least one trimming actuator and consequently adjusting the orientation of the spreader assembly (300).

14. The hoisting system according to claim 13, wherein the hoisting means (5) includes a hoist mechanism having at least one hoist drum (100).

15. The hoisting system according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the cables are continuous from the hoisting means (5) to the cable termination assembly (400) with the spreader assembly (300) engaging the cables through a plurality of pulleys or sheaves (308).

16. The hoisting system according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein each of the cables engages a pulley or sheave (308) of the spreader assembly (300) in a plurality of locations so as to maintain the horizontal and vertical orientation of the spreader assembly, whereby said vertical and horizontal orientation is varied to accommodate placement of the spreader assembly on activation of the trimming actuator (405a,b).

17. The hoisting system according to claim 16, wherein each cable is connected to the termination assembly (400) via a respective trimming actuator (405a,b) such that the adjustment of the orientation of the spreader assembly (300) includes activation of more than one trimming actuator.

18. The hoisting system according to claim 19 wherein the spreader assembly (300) is adapted to engage at least two containers, said at least one trimming actuator (405a,b) adapted to adjust the vertical position of one container relative to the at least one other.

Ansprüche

1. Hebesystem, das Folgendes umfasst:

eine Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300), die zwei Kopfabschnitte (305 a, b) umfasst, die jeweils mit einem Anschlaggeschirr-Rahmen (310 a, b) ineinandergreifen, wobei die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) dafür eingerichtet ist, wenigstens zwei Frachteinrichtungen (130 a, b) in Eingriff zu nehmen, die jeweils mit jedem Anschlaggeschirr-Rahmen (310 a, b) in Eingriff gebracht sind, und

eine Laufkatzen-Baugruppe (200), die Mittel zum Tragen der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe umfasst, wobei die Mittel Seile (307) einschließen,

einen ersten Trägerabschnitt (205 a) und einen zweiten Trägerabschnitt (205 b),

wobei die Tragmittel dafür eingerichtet sind, die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) mit wenigstens einem der Trägerabschnitte (205 a, b) zu verbinden, und

ein Laufkatzen-Trennungsmittel (210a, b) zum selektiven Verändern der relativen Position des ersten und des zweiten Trägerabschnitts (205 a, b),

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

die Laufkatzen-Baugruppe (200) ferner Anschlaggeschirr-Trennungsmittel (315 a, b, c) zum Einstellen der relativen Position der Kopfabschnitte (305 a, b) umfasst,

wobei die relative Position des ersten und des zweiten Trägerabschnitts (205 a, b), die durch die Laufkatzen-Trennungsmittel (210 a, b) verändert wird, der relativen Position der Kopfabschnitte (305 a, b), die durch die Anschlaggeschirr-Trennungsmittel (315 a, b, c) eingestellt wird, entspricht, wobei die Einstellung der Laufkatzen-Trennungsmittel (210 a, b) und der Anschlaggeschirr-Trennungsmittel (315 a, b, c) derart ist, dass die Seile (307) in einer im Wesentlichen vertikalen Ausrichtung gehalten werden.

2. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Laufkatzen-Trennungsmittel (210 a, b) mehrere Stellantriebe (210 a, b) umfassen, die dafür angeordnet sind, selektiv die relative Position der Trägerabschnitte (205 a, b) zu verändern.

3. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Stellantriebe (210 a, b) ein beliebiges oder eine Kombination von hydraulischen Stellantrieben, pneumatischen Stellantrieben oder elektrisch angetriebenen Stellantrieben sind.

4. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Laufkatzen-Trennungsmittel (210 a, b) ein durch Stellantrieb vorgespanntes Gerüst von Hebelarmen umfassen.

5. Hebesystem nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Tragmittel Seile (307), Treibscheiben und Seilscheiben (308) umfassen, die dafür angeordnet sind, die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) an wenigstens einem der Trägerabschnitte (205 a, b) aufzuhängen.

6. Hebesystem nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Trägerabschnitte (205 a, b) gesonderte Träger in Rolleingriff mit einer Schiene oder einem Kranbalken umfassen.

7. Hebesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die Trägerabschnitte (205 a, b) an einem einzigen Träger (350) angebracht sind, wobei sich die zweiten Trägerabschnitte in Gleiteingriff mit dem einzigen Träger befinden, wobei sich der Träger in Rolleingriff mit einer Schiene oder einem Kranbalken befindet derart, dass die Trennungsmittel den zweiten Trägerabschnitt vorspannen, damit er innerhalb des Trägers zu der gewünschten Position im Verhältnis zu dem ersten Trägerabschnitt gleitet.

8. Hebesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei der erste Trägerabschnitt (205 a) ein Hauptträger ist und der zweite Trägerabschnitt (205 b) ein Nebenträger ist, der durch die Trennungsmittel in Eingriff mit dem Hauptträger gebracht wird, wobei der Hauptträger angetrieben wird, so dass er die Laufkatzen-Baugruppe entlang der Schiene oder des Kranbalkens bewegt.

9. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Kopfabschnitte (305 a, b) mehrere Seilscheiben (308) umfassen, um die Seile (307) in Eingriff zu nehmen.

10. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 1, das ferner einen Hebemechanismus (5) zum Steuern der vertikalen Bewegung einer doppelten Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) einschließt, wobei die Baugruppe wenigstens eine erste und eine zweite Anschlaggeschirr-Einheit hat, wobei der Hebemechanismus eine Hebetrommel (100), einen ersten Seilsatz (10 a, c), der die erste Anschlaggeschirr-Einheit (310 a) mit der Hebetrommel verbindet, einen zweiten Seilsatz (10 b, d), der die zweite Anschlaggeschirr-Einheit (310 b) mit der Hebetrommel verbindet, umfasst, wobei eine Betätigung des Hebemechanismus bewirkt, dass sich die Hebetrommel (100) dreht und infolgedessen die erste und die zweite Anschlaggeschirr-Einheit (310 a, b) gleichzeitig anhebt oder absenkt.

11. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Hebetrommel (100) an einer Laufkatze angebracht ist, die unmittelbar oberhalb der doppelten Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe angeordnet ist.

12. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Hebetrommel (100) an einer feststehenden Struktur angebracht ist, wobei die Seile durch die Laufkatze hindurchgehen, wobei die doppelte Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe durch die Seile unterhalb der Laufkatze getragen wird.

13. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 1, das ferner Folgendes umfasst:

ein Hebemittel (5), eine Seilabschluss-Baugruppe (400) und mehrere Seile (10, 307), die an einem ersten Ende mit dem Hebemittel verbunden sind und an einem entgegengesetzten zweiten Ende mit der Seilabschluss-Baugruppe verbunden sind,

die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300), die derart mit dem Seilen zwischen dem Hebemittel und der Abschlussbaugruppe in Eingriff gebracht ist, dass die vertikale Position der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe durch die Betätigung des Hebemittels bestimmt wird,

die Seilabschluss-Baugruppe (400), die einen Ankerblock (403) einschließt, der an einer feststehenden Struktur angebracht und dafür eingerichtet ist, mehrere der Seile zu verankern, und

wenigstens einen Trimmstellantrieb (405 a, b), der zwischen einem Ende wenigstens eines Seils und der Abschlussbaugruppe angeordnet ist,

wobei das wenigstens eine der Seile derart mit dem wenigstens einen Trimmstellantrieb (405 a, b) in Reihe mit dem Seil verbunden ist, dass die relative Position des wenigstens einen Seils auf eine Betätigung des wenigstens einen Trimmstellantriebs hin selektiv einstellbar ist und infolgedessen die Ausrichtung der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) einstellt.

14. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 13, wobei das Hebemittel (5) einen Hebemechanismus einschließt, der wenigstens eine Hebetrommel (100) hat.

15. Hebesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 13 oder 14, wobei die Seile von dem Hebemittel (5) bis zu der Seilabschluss-Baugruppe (400) durchgehend sind, wobei die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) die Seile durch mehrere Seilscheiben oder Treibscheiben (308) in Eingriff nimmt.

16. Hebesystem nach einem der Ansprüche 13 bis 15, wobei jedes der Seile eine Seilscheibe oder Treibscheibe (308) der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) an mehreren Positionen in Eingriff nimmt, um so die horizontale und vertikale Ausrichtung der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe aufrechtzuerhalten, wodurch die vertikale und horizontale Ausrichtung verändert wird, um auf eine Betätigung des Trimmstellantriebs (405 a, b) hin die Platzierung der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe anzupassen.

17. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 16, wobei jedes Seil über einen jeweiligen Trimmstellantrieb (405 a, b) derart mit der Abschlussbaugruppe (400) verbunden ist, dass die Einstellung der Ausrichtung der Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) eine Betätigung von mehr als einem Trimmstellantrieb einschließt.

18. Hebesystem nach Anspruch 13, wobei die Anschlaggeschirr-Baugruppe (300) dafür eingerichtet ist, wenigstens zwei Container in Eingriff zu nehmen, wobei der wenigstens eine Trimmstellantrieb (405 a, b) dafür eingerichtet ist, die vertikale Position des einen Containers im Verhältnis zu dem wenigstens einen anderen einzustellen.

Revendications

1. Système de levage comprenant:

un ensemble écarteur (300) comprenant deux parties de tête (305 a, b) qui s'engagent respectivement avec un cadre d'écarteur (310 a, b), l'ensemble écarteur (300) étant adapté pour s'engager avec au moins deux dispositifs de fret (130 a, b), chaque dispositif étant respectivement engagé avec chaque cadre d'écarteur (310 a, b); et

un ensemble chariot (200) comprenant un moyen pour supporter l'ensemble écarteur, ledit moyen incluant des câbles (307),

une première partie porteuse (205 a) et une seconde partie porteuse (205 b);

le moyen de support étant adapté pour relier l'ensemble écarteur (300) à au moins une desdites parties porteuses (205 a, b); et

un moyen de séparation de chariot (210 a, b) permettant de modifier sélectivement la position relative des première et seconde parties porteuses (205 a, b);

caractérisé par le fait que

l'ensemble chariot (200) comprend, en outre, un moyen de séparation d'écarteur (315 a, b, c) permettant de régler la position relative des parties de tête (305 a, b);

dans lequel la position relative des première et seconde parties porteuses (205 a, b), modifiée par le moyen de séparation de chariot (210 a, b) correspond à la position relative des parties de tête (305 a, b) réglée par le moyen de séparation d'écarteur (315 a, b, c); le réglage effectué par le moyen de séparation de chariot (210 a, b) et le moyen de séparation d'écarteur (315 a, b, c) est tel que les câbles (307) sont maintenus dans une orientation essentiellement verticale.

2. Système de levage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de séparation de chariot (210 a, b) comprend une pluralité de vérins (210 a, b) adaptés pour modifier sélectivement la position relative des parties porteuses (205 a, b).

3. Système de levage selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les vérins (210 a, b) sont des vérins soit hydrauliques, soit pneumatiques, soit à commande électrique, ou une combinaison de ces différents types de vérins.

4. Système de levage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de séparation de chariot (210 a, b) inclut un ensemble de bras de levier sollicité par des vérins.

5. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen de support comprend des câbles (307) et des poulies (308) adaptées pour suspendre l'ensemble écarteur (310 a, b) à au moins une desdites parties porteuses (205 a, b).

6. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les parties porteuses (205 a, b) comprennent des dispositifs porteurs séparés en contact roulant avec un rail ou une flèche de grue.

7. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel les parties porteuses (205 a, b) sont montées sur un dispositif porteur unique (350) et la seconde partie porteuse est en contact coulissant avec le dispositif porteur unique, ledit dispositif porteur étant en contact roulant avec un rail ou une flèche de grue, de telle sorte que le moyen de séparation sollicite la seconde partie porteuse pour qu'elle glisse vers la position souhaitée par rapport à la première partie porteuse dans le dispositif porteur.

8. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel la première partie porteuse (205 a) est un dispositif porteur maître et la seconde partie porteuse (205 b) est un dispositif porteur esclave couplé au dispositif porteur maître par le biais du moyen de séparation, ledit dispositif porteur maître étant entraîné de manière à déplacer l'ensemble chariot le long du rail ou de la flèche de grue.

9. Système de levage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les parties de tête (305 a, b) incluent une pluralité de poulies (308) permettant l'engagement des câbles (307).

10. Système de levage selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre, un mécanisme de levage (5) permettant de commander le mouvement vertical d'un ensemble écarteur double (300), ledit ensemble ayant au moins une première et une seconde unité d'écarteur, ledit mécanisme de levage comprenant un tambour de levage (100), un premier jeu de câbles (10 a, c) reliant la première unité d'écarteur (310 a) au tambour de levage; un second jeu de câbles (10 b, d) reliant la seconde unité d'écarteur (310 b) au tambour de levage, dans lequel l'actionnement du mécanisme de levage entraîne la rotation du tambour de levage (100) et, par conséquent, la montée ou la descente des première et seconde unités d'écarteur (310 a, b) simultanément.

11. Système de levage selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le tambour de levage (100) est monté sur un chariot situé directement au-dessus de l'ensemble écarteur double.

12. Système de levage selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le tambour de levage (100) est monté sur une structure fixe, les câbles traversant le chariot et ledit ensemble écarteur double étant supportés par les câbles en dessous du chariot.

13. Système de levage selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre:

un moyen de levage (5), un ensemble de terminaison de câbles (400) et une pluralité de câbles (10, 307) reliés à une première extrémité au moyen de levage et, à une seconde extrémité opposée, à l'ensemble de terminaison de câbles;

ledit ensemble écarteur (300) étant engagé avec lesdits câbles entre le moyen de levage et l'ensemble de terminaison, de sorte que la position verticale de l'ensemble écarteur est déterminée par l'actionnement du moyen de levage;

ledit ensemble de terminaison de câbles (400) incluant un bloc d'ancrage (403) monté sur une structure fixe et adapté pour ancrer une pluralité de câbles; et

au moins un vérin d'équilibrage (405 a, b) positionné entre une extrémité d'au moins un câble et l'ensemble de terminaison;

dans lequel l'au moins un desdits câbles est relié à l'au moins un vérin d'équilibrage (405 a, b) en série avec ledit câble, de sorte que la position relative dudit au moins un câble peut être réglée sélectivement en activant l'au moins un vérin d'équilibrage, ce qui a pour conséquence de régler l'orientation de l'ensemble écarteur (300).

14. Système de levage selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le moyen de levage (5) inclut un mécanisme de levage comprenant au moins un tambour de levage (100).

15. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 13 ou 14, dans lequel les câbles sont continus du moyen de levage (5) jusqu'à l'ensemble de terminaison de câbles (400), l'ensemble écarteur (300) étant engagé avec les câbles par le biais d'une pluralité de poulies (308).

16. Système de levage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 13 à 15, dans lequel chacun des câbles est engagé avec une poulie (308) de l'ensemble écarteur (300) en une pluralité d'endroits, de manière à maintenir l'orientation horizontale et verticale de l'ensemble écarteur, ladite orientation verticale et horizontale étant modifiée pour adapter le positionnement de l'ensemble écarteur lors de l'activation du vérin d'équilibrage (405 a, b).

17. Système de levage selon la revendication 16, dans lequel chaque câble est relié à l'ensemble de terminaison (400) par le biais d'un vérin d'équilibrage respectif (405 a, b), de sorte que le réglage de l'orientation de l'ensemble écarteur (300) inclut l'actionnement de plus d'un vérin d'équilibrage.

18. Système de levage selon la revendication 13, dans lequel l'ensemble écarteur (300) est adapté pour s'engager avec au moins deux conteneurs, ledit au moins un vérin d'équilibrage (405 a, b) étant adapté pour régler la position verticale d'un conteneur par rapport à l'au moins un autre conteneur.

Drawing